APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING CROP ELEMENTS

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting crop elements from the ground by means of a pick-up unit (3, 4, 5) which is caused to pass along a path through a pick-up region (4) to collect crop elements disposed therein characterised by: a displacing unit (1) for urging crop elements into the path from a region adjacent thereto and a brushing unit (2) for displacing crop elements initially located outside the pick-up region (4) but in the path of the apparatus, the displacing unit (1) comprising an endless member running in a generally horizontal plane and having a crop element engaging means such as paddles thereon. Further, an apparatus for collecting crop elements from the ground by means of a pick-up unit (3, 4, 5) which is caused to pass along a path through a pick-up region (4) to collect crop elements disposed therein is characterised in that the pick-up unit (3, 4, 5) includes a pick-up head (3) having two rotors (4, 5) that are adapted to interact with one another to lift the crop elements from the ground. For use there is provided a mobile unit comprising a self-propelled vehicle characterised by apparatus as aforesaid.

Description: APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING CROP ELEMENTS TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to apparatus for collecting crop elements in the nature of fruits, nuts and vegetables from the surface of the ground, particularly but not exclusively for collecting cider apples and perry pears which are allowed to fall from the trees before they are collected for processing. BACKGROUND ART Known problems for existing collection apparatus arise in coping with: collecting the fruit without causing damage, however dense the crop might be; separating the fruit from debris such as leaves and twigs that are collected at the same time as the crop. Further problems arise in collecting of fruit which has fallen close to the trunks of the fruit trees. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for collecting crop elements from the ground by means of a pick-up unit which is caused to pass along a path through a pick up region to collect crop elements disposed therein characterised by: a displacing unit for urging crop elements into the path from a region adjacent thereto and a brushing unit for displacing crop elements initially located outside the pick up region but in the path of the apparatus, the displacing unit comprising an endless member running in a generally horizontal plane and having crop-element engaging means such as paddles thereon. Typically the displacing unit is mounted in bearings providing for movement of the displacing unit about a horizontal axis or a vertical axis or both to enable the crop engaging elements to be maintained close to the ground. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for collecting crop elements from the ground by means of a pick-up unit which is caused to pass along a path through a pick up region to collect crop elements disposed therein characterised in that the pick-up unit includes a pick-up head having two rotors that are adapted to interact with one another with one another to lift the crop elements from the ground. According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobile unit comprising a self propelled vehicle characterised in that it has mounted on it apparatus according to the first or the second aspect of the present invention. According to a first preferred version of the third aspect of the present invention the mobile unit is characterised in that it has mounted on it apparatus according to the first or second aspects. According to a second preferred version of the third aspect of the present invention or the first preferred version thereof the mobile unit is characterised by a storage volume for collected crop elements. Typically the path for collected crop elements extending between the pick-up unit and the storage volume. The path can include a conveyor providing for a change in height of collected crop elements moving along the path. Further more the storage volume is in the form of a trailer drawn by the self propelled vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS An embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings of a fruit collecting apparatus in which: Figure 1 is a side view when mounted on the front of a tractor; Figure 2 is a plan view in the direction of arrow II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of what is shown in Figure 1 in the direction of arrow in when the apparatus is in use; Figure 4 is a sectional elevation on section IV of Figure 2 showing details of various components of the apparatus; Figure 5 is a plan view in section V of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a plan view of a conveyor belt; and Figure 7 is a sectional elevation on section VII of Figure 2. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The figures variously show a crop collector C including spinner 1, a front brush 2, a pick-up head 3, a front rotor 4, a pick-up rotor 5, a cross conveyor 6, a cleaner 7, an elevator 8, a delivery conveyor 9, and a deflector 10. The individual elements of the apparatus are described in more detail below. The crop collector C is shown mounted on an agricultural tractor A with a trailer B into which the crop element output of crop collector C is conveyed. In operation (Figure 2) the collector C proceeds forwardly in line with a row T of fruit trees (one tree T being shown). To set up the crop collector for use the wheel E' on the outer end of spinner 1 is put into line with a row T of fruit trees (of which a single trunk T' is shown) from which fruit to be cropped has fallen. Spinner 1 The spinner 1 (see particularly Figures 4 and 5) comprises a chain 41 mounted on two drive sprockets (sprockets 42, 43), which in turn are mounted respectively on vertical shafts 44, 45. Either both of these shafts 44, 45 are driven are driven, or one is driven and one is turned by the chain 41. A flight of rubber paddles 46 are attached to the chain 41. The direction of movement of the chain 41 is as indicated by arrow 47 and is such that when the a paddle 46 on the front side of the spinner (that is to say on forward side A of lateral axis L') comes into contact with the fallen fruit elements X the elements X are displaced horizontally into pick-up region H in the vicinity of the front of the pick-up head 3. It will be seen from Figure 4 that the spinner 1 is elongate and has a vertical axis 50 tilted slightly forwardly of the vertical. This provides for paddies 46 travelling along the forward side A of the spinner to be relatively close to the ground and the paddles 16 travelling on rear side B of the spinner to be raised above the ground. Consequently fruit elements in front of the spinner 1 tends to be swept by the paddles 46 on the A side into the pick up region H. Conversely paddles 46 passing along the rear side B of the spinner are generally raised above fruit elements on the ground clear of fruit and serve to displace fruit to a limited extent, if at all, outwardly from the apparatus. The spinner 1 is moimted by way of inner end 1' by means a plate 51 on an arm 52 whose outer end 53 is supported on frame member 54. Inner end 55 of arm 52 is supported on chassis member 56. Outer end 53 of arm 52 is coupled to frame member 54 by means of a horizontal bearing 58. Inner end 55 of arm 52 is coupled to chassis member 56 by a horizontal bearing 60. Bearings 58, 60 enable the arm 52 to pivot about a horizontal axis HI (Figure 4) so that the paddles 46 on leading side A can follow the contours of the ground over which they pass. This is facilitated by the arrangement of the spinner 1 oh guide wheels 49, 50 (not shown in Figure 4 but indicated in Figure 5) which are located between the stands of chain 41 in close proximity to the paddles 46 so providing for very good ground following. Inner end 1' of the spinner 1 is journalled about axis VI so as to provide for movement of the spinner 1 in a horizontal direction as a unit about vertical axis VI relative to and transverse the usual direction of travel F' of the unit C. In the event of the wheel E' contacts the tree T the spinner 1 is pushed transversely away the trunk T , and readily passes around the trunk T without causing damage to the tree. A particular advantage of the pivotable arrangement of spinner 1 is that when the spinner moves round a tree T, its angular displacement about axis VI does not prevent the flights 46 on the front side of the spinner continuing to urge contacted fruit into the pick up region H. Brush ! The front brush 2 (see Figures 2 and 3) referred to above, is located in front of the tractor, and serves to move any fruit lying on the ground in the path of the tractor (and so liable to damage by the wheels of the tractor) to one side for collection on a subsequent pass of the collector C. The brush 2 uses a chain and flight E of paddles similar in form and function to that of the spinner 1. However the direction of movement of the front of the chain and paddles E of the brush 2 is in a direction E' serving to sweep fallen fruit away from, rather than towards, region H. The brush 2 is mounted on an arm 2' also capable of motion about both a vertical and a horizontal axis to enable the chain and paddles E to closely follow the contours of the ground contours over which it passes. Pick-up 3 The pick-up head 3 (see particularly Figure 4) comprises front rotor 4 and the pick-up rotor 5 (see Fig 4D). The rotors 4, 5 are disposed relative to one another and with their action inter-related so as to be capable of collecting substantial volumes of fruit as they move through region H while causing little or no damage to the collected elements. The front rotor 4 has five flexible rubber flaps 4' attached to a horizontally journalled powered shaft 60. The rotor 4 turns in an anti-clockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 4), so that its flaps 4' serve to gently draws elements into the apparatus and into contact with the pick-up rotor 5, which is rotating clockwise. The pick-up rotor 5, has six strong rubber blades 5', which in operation lift the fruit gently pressed onto it by the front rotor 4, and deposit it onto the cross conveyor 6. An advantage of this arrangement is that the path along which picked up crop elements pass within the apparatus is direct, and damage to the collected crop due to directional changes and sudden acceleration is kept to a minimum. Speeds of rotors 4, 5 and the cross conveyor 6 are kept at a level minimising damage to the collected fruit. The cross conveyor 6 (Figures 2, 3 and 6) comprises rubber faced flights 61 which are attached at each end to chains 62, 63. The base of the conveyor consists of round metal rods, such as rods 64, 65, aligned parallel with the chains 62, 63, and spaced apart so that small items of debris, such as mud particles, swept onto the conveyor 6 drop through the conveyor 6 to the ground. The cross conveyor 6 transfers the fruit from behind the pick-up head 3, and lifts it high enough so that it can pass downwardly through the cleaner 7. Cleaner 7 The cleaner 7 (see Figures 3 and 7) includes fine rubber cords 66 suspended from a surface 66' below which the collected crop and debris must travel. As the crop and debris travel through the rubber cords 66 lighter debris, such as leaves and twigs, are retained and eventually fall to the ground. The crop items, and some other debris carried with the crop, is then deposited onto the top of an inclined rubber pintle belt 67, whose uppermost side 68 travels upwardly in direction of arrow 69. Crop elements are cleaned as they roll down the pintle belt 67 and pass into container 68 from which they are drawn by elevator 8. All separated debris is allowed to fall to the ground. The elevator 8 (Figure 1) raises the cleaned crop from the contained 68 up to onto the delivery elevator 9, where it passes to fall into trailer B by way of deflector 10 which serves to provide for the distribution of crop over the trailer B. The necessary hydraulic power for the apparatus for the spinner 1, brush 2, pick¬ up 3 and the various conveyors is provided from the tractor A. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The invention provides for the displacement and collecting of fruit lying between the trunks of the trees, and of collecting such fruit without causing damage, however dense the crop might be. The invention further provides during collection for the separation of the collected crop elements from debris such as leaves and twigs that tend to be collected at the same time as the elements.

Claims: CLAIMS 1 An apparatus for collecting crop elements from the ground by means of a pick-up unit which is caused to pass along a path through a pick up region to collect crop elements disposed therein characterised by: a displacing unit for urging crop elements into the path from a region adjacent thereto and a brushing unit for displacing crop elements initially located outside the pick up region but in the path of the apparatus, the displacing unit comprising an endless member running in a generally horizontal plane and having crop-element engaging means such as paddles thereon. 2 An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein characterised in that the displacing unit is mounted in bearings providing for movement of the displacing unit about a horizontal axis or a vertical axis or both to enable the crop engaging elements to be maintained close to the ground. 3 An apparatus for collecting crop elements from the ground by means of a pick-up unit which is caused to pass along a path through a pick up region to collect crop elements disposed therein characterised in that the pick-up unit includes a pick-up head having two rotors that are adapted to interact with one another with one another to lift the crop elements from the ground. 4 A mobile unit comprising a self propelled vehicle characterised in that it has mounted on it apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim. 5 A mobile unit as claimed in Claim 4 characterised in that it has mounted on it apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 3. 6 A mobile unit as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 characterised by a storage volume for collected crop elements. A mobile unit as claimed in Claim 6 characterised by a path for collected crop elements extending between the pick-up unit and the storage volume. A mobile unit as claimed in Claim 7wherein the path includes a conveyor providing for a change in height of collected crop elements moving along the path. A mobile unit as claimed in Claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein the storage volume is in the form of a trailer drawn by the self propelled vehicle.

Inventors: TUTHILL GEORGE ROBERT, TUTHILL, GEORGE, ROBERT
Applicants: TUTHILL GEORGE ROBERT, TUTHILL, GEORGE, ROBERT
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A01D51
IPC codes: A01D51